The Potato Pledge launched last year when Project Grow teamed up with Downtown Home and Garden, Food Gatherers, and the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice to distribute free seed potatoes to gardeners who would pledge to return a portion of their crop to Food Gatherers.

This year’s Pit Stop theme encouraged drivers to pull over on Ashley Street to get their 2-pound bag of seed potatoes and growing instructions. Over 130 pounds of potatoes went home with gardeners who wanted to participate in the Potato Pledge.

Taking part in the Potato Pledge was a lot of fun, and I rediscovered some universal truths too. For example, talking to strangers and being silly are easier if you are part of a group. Also, if you carry cute signs, wear costumes, or are friendly, most people will be happy to talk about gardening. Another fact was that parents with little kids in tow were more willing to take part, as one of the other volunteers pointed out. I don’t know if people were encouraged to join by my willingness to share my story of potato failure last year, but I tried to explain that pledging to grow potatoes was a low-risk gardening effort.

If you missed out on the Potato Pledge, there are still opportunities to contribute gardening produce to programs that fight hunger. The Plant a Row for the Hungry project asks gardeners to set aside gardening space to grow vegetables to donate to food banks. Food Gatherers happily accepts surplus homegrown produce, even if it wasn’t originally planted for donation.

After last year’s unimpressive potato crop, I’m anxious to do a good job and reclaim my reputation. This year, I’m taking suggestions and following directions. One thing I love about gardening is having another chance each year to get better at it.